Lower-Salt Diet Would Have Major Impact

If all Americans cut their salt intake by less than half a teaspoon a day, we could save up to $24 billion in health costs every year. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University built a computer model to test the idea. Experts recommend less than 5.8 g of salt per day. Women eat about 7.3 g per day, and men 10.4 g. Most salt in the diet comes from processed foods, such as lunchmeat, canned food and sauces. The study was published January 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine. HealthDay News wrote about it the same day.